Process of and apparatus for manufacturing gas



3 Sheets-*Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. M. PERSON. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POB. MANUPAGTURING GAS.

No. 558,740. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

ANDREW B.GRM1AM. FNUTO-LITMQWASMNGTDN. D.C

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. M. PIBRSON. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

No. 558,740. Pa-tentedApr. 21, 1896.

ANDREW BGRAHAM. PHUTO'UTMU.W^SHIIGTUN. n.0.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-*Sheet 3.

H. M. PIERSON. PRoGEss 0F AND APPARATUS FUN MANUFACTURING GAS.

No. 558,740. Patented Apr. 21, 1896 lINrrn rares HENRY M. PIERSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

`PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FO MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,740, dated April 21, 1896.

Application filed October 23, 1895. Serial No. 566,632. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

3e it known that I, HENRY M. PIERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and uscful Improvement in the Process of and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, of which the following is a speciication.

Hy present invention is designed as an improvement upon the apparatus described and shown in Letters Patent granted to me November l2, 1895, No. 549,657, and also upon the method and apparatus described and shown in Letters Patent granted to me July 5, 1892, No. 478,459, and June 27, 1893, No. 500,424, all of which relate tothe manufacture of coal-gas, water-gas, and oil-gas, and whichv gases are commingled to form a permanent compound gas.

My present invention relates to the particular arrangement of the apparatus employed and to the method of operating the same to produce the desired result in the most economical and expeditious manner.

In carrying out my invention I employ connected generating-furnaces, refractory-material fixing-chambers connected with the generators, benches of coal-gas retorts heated by retort-furnaces having continuous fires, pipes connecting the Xing-ehainbers with the retort-chambers adjacent to the fires of the retort-furnaces, pipes connecting the iixingchambers with a main pipe and branches therefrom to the ends of the coal-gas retorts, and rising pipes from the other ends of said retorts to a hydraulic main and away to a common holder.

The details of the apparatus and the method of operating` the same are hereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a general plan representing my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a general side elevation, one generatingfurnace and one Xing-chamber being in section; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the back of the retort-chambers and benches of retorts and section of the pipes for gas, &c., just back of the fixing-chambers.

A A represent the companion generating furnaces. These are of usual construction and receive coke from the coal-gas retorts above their grate-bars, and are provided with inlet-pipes Z9 b', admitting air under pressure below their grate-bars. These generatingfurnaces are connected below their grate-bars by a pipe and valve a., around which valve a water-jacket a', as shown, may be placed, if found desirable.

B B represent circular two-part refractorymaterial fixing-chambers, which are each constructed with a central wall with an openarched base and checker-brick laid up in the usual manner upon tile arches in the two chambers or compartments formed by the central wall. The heating-passage is by this construction practically doubled and the efficiency increased.

The generating-furnaces A A/ and fixingchambers B B are connected together by the throats c c' at their upper ends, and gas-tight covers I are provided upon the generatingfurnaces and fixing-chambers to provide for access to the fixing-chambers and for introducing fuel or coke into the generating-furnaces. Air-pipes b2 are provided and open into the upper ends of the fixing-chambers for admitting air, if desired, and at the proper time for insuring perfect combustion of the gases as they enter the fixing-chambers.

D D represent the retort-chambers, each containing a bench of coal-gas retorts. I have shown the two benches C C each of six retorts. out departing from my invention.

Vithin the retort-chambers under the benches of retorts are the retort-furnaces E, and upon the retort-chambers is ahydraulic main F and pipes G therefrom to a common holder. Pipes d, with branches d', connect the hydraulic main F with the retorts of the benches at one end.

The other ends of the coal-gas retorts are provided with stand-pipes c and branches c, connected to a main L, extending along over the top of the retort-chambers. In the upper end of each stand-pipe e is a plungervalve 2, that may be operated in any desired manner, and these valves may be opera-ted singly or all together, or in any desired number or group.

Extending out from the fixing-chambers B B at their upper ends are lined pipes f g with branches 7L t'. These pipes f g have descending members j" g' and horizontal mem- More or less may be employed with- ICC bers f2 g2 at their bases entering the retortchambers in proximity to the retort-furnaces E. Atthe junction of the pipes f g and f g/ are plunger-valves 3 t and surrounding water-jackets 5 6, the construction of which is Well known. The branch pipes 7L i have connected with them the descending horizontal and rising members 71, h2 h3 and t" 2 t3, the rising members h3 and @"3 connecting with the respective ends of the main L. At the junction of the branch pipes 7M and descending pipes 71, t" are plunger-valves 7 8.

The steam supply pipe 7o and oil-supply pipe l are provided with valves and are brought together, and therefrom a union-pipe 10 opens into opposite sides of the neck of the generating-furnace A. A like construction is preferred for the generating-furnace A', wherein the steam-pipe 7a and oil-pipe Z and the union-pipe 12 are employed.

I provide steam-pipes m m', opening into the pipes f g, adjacent to the fixing-chambers for a purpose hereinafter described.

In my allowed application, Serial N o. 548,166, heretofore referred to, I have shown receptacles over the retort-chambers in the furnace-wall and pipes in series therein for superheating steam and for highly heating liquid hydrocarbons, and in the present application I have indicated similar series of pipes, the steam series being shown at M and the oil series at O. In these series steam from a boiler passes by the pipe 13, through the series O, and away by the pipe 14 to the pipe 15 and through the series M and away by the pipe 1G to the steam-pipes 7c 7d m m', as may be required for use in the gas-making processes. In these series oil or liquid hydrocarbons come from a source of supply to the pipe 17 and through the system O and away by the pipe 18 to the pipes Z t', as may be required in the gas-making processes.

As usual in gas-making operations bituminous coal is distilled in the retorts of the benches C C and the coal-gas passes therefrom by the stand-pipes d, branch pipes CZ', through the hydraulic main F, and by the pipes Gr to the holder.

The operation or process of gas-making in my improved apparatus is as follows: The valve a and plunger-valves 7 S are closed and the plunger-valves 3 4: are opened. Air under pressure is now admitted by the pipes b b, and the fuel in the generating-furnaces A A is brought up to a condition of incandescence, the products of combustion passing from said furnaces through the throats c c down and up through the two compartments of the refractory-material fixing-chambers B B, bringing the checkerbrick therein to a highly-heated condition, by the pipes fff2 and g g g2 into the retort-chambers D D/ ad jacent to the fires of the retort-furnaces, up around the coal-gas retorts, and away in any desired manner to discharge-chimneys. If desired, during this blowing-up operation air may be admitted into the fixing-chambers B B by the pipes b2 to insure perfect combustion of the gases and the highest attainable heat therefrom. After the blowing-up operation the plunger-valves 3 A.L are closed, 7 is kept closed, 8 is opened, and the valve d is also opened, and steam previously superheated in the systems of pipes O and IWI is admitted by the pipes 7o and 10 into the upper part of the furnace A for the formation of water-gas. This steam passes down through the incandescent fuel in the generating-furnace A, across through the pipe and past the valve a and up through the incandescent fuel in the furnace A', where it is transformed into Water-gas and reaches a very high heat, and in the upper part of this furnace A the water-gas is met in its highly-heated condition by the vapors of liquid hydrocarbons coming from the system O and admitted by the pipes Z 12 under some pressure, and the resultant gas, a mixture of water-gas and oil-gas, passes by the throat c into and down and up through the compartments of the refractory-material fixing chambers B', in whose increased length of fixing-chamber the greatest efficiency is obtained, and by the pipes g, t', t2, and 3 into the main L and down all or any desired number of the pipes e' and e into the coal-gas retorts during the process of distillation and making coal-gas, and therein the resultant gas, in passing' through said retorts, becomes enriched by taking up and combining with the light tarry matters or hydrocarbons such light tarry matters as have heretofore usually passed over into the hydraulic main and become lost by commingling with the tar. The resultant gas thus enriched passes by the stand-pipes and branches d d, through the hydraulic main, and so to the gas-holder. During this process the highly-heated steam in passing down through one generating-furnace and up through the other is completely transformed into water-gas, wherein there is practically no watery vapors, and the gas resulting from the mixture of the water-gas and oil-gas is fixed in passing through the chamber B. After the completion of this step of the process the valve a and the plunger-valve 8 are shut, the valve 7 is left shut, and the plungervalves 3 and L1 are opened, and air under pressure is admitted by the pipes b Z2 under the grates of the generating-furnaces, and the fuel therein is again brought up to incandescence, the products of combustion going, as heretofore expressed, through the fixingchambers and pipes f f f2 and g g" g2 into the retort-chambers around the retorts of the benches, heating the same with the high intermittent heat, as heretofore set forth. The next step in the process, the valve a is opened, the valves 3 and 4 are closed, and the valve 8 is left closed, and the plunger-valve 7 is opened, and superheated steam from the systems O and M is admitted by the pipes 7c and 12 into the upper end of the generating-furnace A', and the same passes down through IOC IIC

the incandescent fuel in said furnace A',

hydrocarbons coming from the system O and admitted by the pipes Z and l0, and the resultant gas passes through the throat c and down and up through the refractory-material fixing-chamber B, wherein said gas is com-V pletely fixed, the same thereafter passing by the pipes f, Zt, hf, h2, and h3 to the main L, and therefrom through all or any desired number of the pipes c and c into the coal-gas retorts during the process of making coal-gas, wherein the said gas takes up the light tarry materials and thereby becomes enriched and passes from said retorts by the pipes CZ CZ and by hydraulic main to the common holder. These operations are thereafter repeated by the simultaneous blowing up of the generating-furnaces and heating of the fixing-cham bers and the combined use of the generatingfurnaces in alternate direct-ions for the manufacture and fixing of water-gas and the combining therewith of oil-gas and the fixing of the same and the enriching of the resultant gas in transit to the hold er by passing through the coal-gas retorts during the process of distilling bituminous coal and making coal-gas.

I would remark that the quantity of vaperized hydrocarbon oil admitted to the upper ends of the generating-furnaces by the pipes Z and lO or Z and l2 is to be under entire control, so that any desired quantity can be admitted, the oil-gas and water-gas commingling in a ratio controlled at will according to the desired candle-power of gas by the quantity of liquid hydrocarbon admitted in each run, the candle -power being lowest with strictly fuel-gas and highest with illu minating-gas. t

In the aforesaid process there will be probably some oily deposits on the refractory material of the fixing-chambers I3 B, and the object of the steam-pipes on fm' entering the pipes f and g is to be able, in case sufficient oily deposits are found to be present in either fixing-chamber, to clean the same out by forcing the steam through the fixing-chambers toward the generating-furnace and down and up through the iires of the generating-furnaces and so decompose the steam and cause the same to combine'with the oily deposit and make additional water-gas, which thereafter passes away in the manner as does the watergas hereinbefore described.

Because of passing the resultant gas through the coal-gas retorts and taking up thereby the light tarry matters I increase both the volume and candle-power of the gas and obviate the necessity of using so much liquid hydrocarbons in the generating-furnaces, and thus eect a saving both in the quantity of oil employed and by preventing these light tarry matters becoming tar in the hydraulic main.

The gases made by the process herein set forth and in the apparatus herein described combine and form a permanent compoun d gas.

The fuel in the generating-furnaces is to be periodically renewed, as is well known, by red-hot coke from the benches of coal-gas retorts, conveyed therefrom to the furnaces in any desired or convenient manner.

1. The process herein described of making a permanent compound gas which consists of blowing up two beds of fuel to incandescence and simultaneously heating fixing-chambers and conveying the products of combustion into retort-chambers to assist by an intermittent heat the heat of steady retort-furnaces in heating coal-gas retorts for the production of coal-gas and coke, cutting ed the air and admitting steam onto the top of one of the beds of fuel and causing the same to pass down through the bed of fuel, to, and up through the other bed of fuel to form watergas, admitting vaporized liquid hydrocarbons above the second bed of fuel which commingle with the water-gas, conveying the resultant gas through a fixing-chamber andthrough retorts during the process of distilling coal to become enriched by taking up the light tarry matters therein and conveying the gases away through the hydraulic main to a holder, substantially as specified.

2. The process herein described of making a permanent compound gas which consistsf of blowing up two beds of fuel to incandescence and simultaneously heating fixing-chambers and conveying the products of combustion into retort-chambers to assist by an intermittent heat the heat of steady retort-furnaces in heating coal-gas retorts for the production of coal-gas and coke, cutting off the air and admitting steam onto the top of one of the beds of fuel and causing the same to pass down through the bed of fuel, to, and up through the other bed of fuel to form watergas, admitting vaporized liquid hydrocarbons above the second bed of fuel which commingle with the water-gas, conveying the resultant gas through a fiXin g-chamber and through retorts during the process of distilling coal to become enriched by taking up the light tarry matters therein and conveying the gases away through the hydraulic main to a holder and again blowing up two beds of fuel to incandescence and repeating the gas-making operations alternately and in opposite directions, substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas the combination with companion generating-furnaces, of a pipe and a valve therein connecting the lower portions of said furnaces, twopart refractory-material fixingchambers and throats connecting the same with the generating-furnaces, retort-chambers containing benches of coal-gas retorts and retort-furnaces, a hydraulic main and pipes to a holder, pipes for products of combustion passin g from the fixing-chambers into IIO the retort-chambers adjacent to the retortfurnaces for admitting' the products of combustion into said retort-furnaces7 plunger- Valves and water-jackets in the pipes for the products of combustion, other pipes passing off from the fixing-chambers for conveying away the gas and having therein plungervalves, a pipe above the retort-chambers connected With the gas-pipes, pipes connecting the retorts of the benches with the pi pe above the retort-chambers and pipes connecting the other ends of the retorts of the benches with the hydraulic main, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas, the combination with companion generating-furnaces, of a pipe and a valve therein connecting` the lower portions of said furnaces, tivo part refractory-material iixingchambers and throats connecting the same With the generating-furnaces, retort-chambers containing benches of coal-gas retorts and retort-furnaces, a hydraulic main and pipes to a holder, pipes for products of coinbustion passing from the fixing-chambers into the retort-chambers adjacent to the retortfurnaces for admitting the products of coml bustion into said retort-furnaces, plungervalves and Water-jackets in the pipes for the products of combustion, other pipes passing off from the xing-ehambers for conveying away the gas and having therein plungervalves, a pipe above the retort-chambers connected with the gas-pipes7 pipes connecting` the retorts of the benches with the pipe above the retort-chambers and pipes connecting the other ends of the retorts of the benches With the hydraulic main, pipes in series in openings or pockets in the upper parts of the Wall of the retort-chambers for superheatin g steam and for highly heating oil, and pipes for con Veying the highly-heated oil or hydrocarbons and also for conveying the superheated steam to the pipes connected with the generating furnaces for supplying thereto the superheated steam and the highly-heated liquid hydrocarbons for the gas-making processes, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 21st day of October, A. D. 1895.

H. M. PIERSON.

Vitnesses:

Guo. T. PINOKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL. 

